Willowdown Primary School, Bridgwater
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Willowdown Primary School has made impressive strides in creating a calm, focused learning environment where behaviour is well-managed and pupils can concentrate. The school has significantly improved its curriculum so children can build knowledge in a logical order, and teachers are receiving training to teach this more ambitious content. The school also works closely with parents and carers, especially families with children who have additional needs, to ensure every child gets the right support.
Key Strengths
- Restructured leadership team with increased capacity to drive improvements
- Substantially improved curriculum with clear knowledge progression so pupils build successfully on prior learning
- Completely overhauled behaviour policy implemented consistently, creating a calm and purposeful atmosphere
- Reduced suspensions and improved attendance through sustained focus
- Strengthened relationships with parents and community, particularly for families with children with SEND
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching expertise not yet evenly developed across all subjects
- Knowledge not made explicit enough in all lessons
- Higher-achieving pupils not consistently progressed to more complex ideas at the right pace
- Pupils' speaking, listening and writing skills need further strengthening
- Some staff require additional training for consistent curriculum implementation
Willowdown Primary School has made progress in improving education quality since its last inspection, with strengthened leadership and a more ambitious curriculum. However, some aspects of the school still need further improvement to ensure consistent high-quality teaching across all subjects.
At a Glance
22.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 74% to 69%. Maths has improved from 61% to 78%. Writing has remained stable at around 81%.
Class Sizes
21.8
Avg class size
24.2
Infant (KS1)
21.7
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
86%
Available places
361 pupils
420 capacity
59 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bridgwater
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bridgwater
Admissions Demand - Somerset
Places available
6,463
Applications
5,059
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Somerset (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.96349%
Overall absence
21.2%
Persistent absence
250
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Willowdown Primary School
Nearby Schools
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